In an era dominated by e-books and audiobooks, NearBook is reviving the old charm of physical books. Founded in 2020 by Sanjay Modi, a 20-year-old from Sanchor, Rajasthan, NearBook is transforming the second-hand book market by seamlessly connecting buyers and sellers. Coming from a middle-class family, Sanjay grew up watching his father’s entrepreneurial struggles, making his father sceptical about his business aspirations. Given just six months to prove himself, he turned NearBook into India’s fastest-growing marketplace for used books, with over 6 lakh downloads.
Beyond buying and selling, the platform allows users to donate, rent, or request books, making reading more affordable and accessible. Sanjay, a lifelong book lover, was inspired by the lack of access to affordable books in his community. Now, he envisions taking NearBook Global. On Campus Special episode of Shark Tank India 4, he pitched his business, seeking 40 lakhs for 20% equity, aiming to expand NearBook’s reach and impact.
"I wanted to create a platform that not only made books affordable but also promoted a culture of reading and learning. Appearing on Shark Tank India 4 was a memorable experience. It gave me the opportunity to share my journey and vision with some of the most accomplished entrepreneurs in the country. Their feedback and insights were helpful, and I feel inspired to push NearBook to new heights,” Sanjay said.
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